Andrew’s Podcast: 50 WAYS TO SUCCEED AT WORK

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE +STORY TELLING--your ticket to career progression

In this episode of '50 Ways to Succeed at Work', I delve into an intriguing concept - the blend of executive presence and storytelling as a golden ticket to your career progression.
I explore the potential pitfalls of the two crucial skills and ways to harness them to claim bigger roles in the organisation effectively.
The episode spotlights a character named Megan – a financial services employee with a widely admired reputation yet an impending challenge: her boss is leaving. Will she be able to seize this opportunity?
Megan must conquer three significant questions: What does she want? What do those responsible for the decision want? And, most importantly, how can she share her vision for the organization?
A key aspect of her strategy, I explain, lies in mastering executive presence. This involves communicating leadership capabilities, levelling up communication impact, and maintaining a professional appearance.
I also stress that integrity, once considered a cornerstone for an executive presence, has given way to respect for others.
Superior speaking skills and understanding an audience's body language have maintained their significance.
Yet, to truly stand out, Megan – and by extension, listeners – must move beyond mere presenting towards emotionally engaging, action-inspiring storytelling.
I distinguish the gaps between generic presentation programs with bullet points and compelling narrative-based storytelling. I cite the exceptional storytelling abilities of renowned business leaders like Howard Schultz, Brian Chesky, and Donna Carpenter.
Through the intermingling of personal anecdotes and corporate missions, these CEOs created emotional connections that furthered meaningful changes.
Their stories serve as powerful examples if you want to step up in your professional journey. The secret recipe? A high executive presence underpinned by outstanding storytelling abilities.
Overall, the episode is a rich resource for professionals eyeing their 'boss's job'.
It's filled with practical advice, intriguing stories, and innovative techniques, this podcast episode acts as a roadmap for those ready to navigate the treacherous path of career advancement.

HELP! I'M FALLING BEHIND IN MY WORK

Welcome to the first episode of Series 3 of '50 Ways to Succeed at Work', my weekly podcast series. 
In this episode I focus on a universal problem we all face at some point—falling behind at work. He presents ways to improve productivity, performance, and well-being, thus aiming to help you regain control and find happiness at work.
Many people struggle with the issue of falling behind at work. This not only affects their professional life but has severe repercussions on their mental health, relationships, and reputation. Based on my own own extensive experiences, I shed light on the danger signs you must look out for that could indicate falling behind at work.
I guide you on how to make sense of your struggles with mistakes and suggest the importance of addressing them by reconnecting with your goals, finding innovative solutions, and being kind to yourself.
I encourage you to engage in self-reflection and self-compassion to overcome the misery of falling behind.
This insightful episode is also packed with practical suggestions to tackle the problem effectively. From rejuvenating sleep routines, finding balance with work and hobbies, to effective time management, discipline, and learning from mistakes.
I also share useful strategies to boost productivity and crawl back from the slump.
Visit the 50 Ways website, and maybe get a copy of my new book 'Happiness at Work' to explore more useful tips and strategies for workplace success.
Stay tuned for the next unmissable episode in this enlightening podcast series. Until then, goodbye!

E34/S2 LIST LOVER - You’ll never remember everything so learn to love your to-do list

Abdul, a new employee, receives advice to keep a daily to-do list to manage his tasks. As he starts compiling his list, it grows larger and larger, becoming overwhelming. A colleague suggests that rather than listing everything he needs to do, Abdul should focus on what is most important to get done today and how much time he should spend on it. To stop being overwhelmed, Abdul should resist the temptation to demand that his list tracks everything he should be doing and instead prune it to within an inch of its life. He should prioritise his list by asking if the task needs to be done today, by him, or at all. Keeping a modest, well-kept list can make life at work more manageable.
There are different ways to keep a to-do list, such as computer-driven ones or scribbles on a whiteboard. However, your list will inevitably keep growing.  So it's vital to focus on what's most important. Break big projects into smaller tasks but without necessarily always adding these to your daily list. Make sure you prioritise your lists and keep refining them so you can plan. If your to-do list is at more than five or six items for the day, you should rethink it. To avoid failure, your list should not be stuffed with goals, minor tasks, and many jobs that need doing. Instead, you can just list what you will do next and when there are unfinished ones at the end of the day, think hard about whether to add them to tomorrow's list.Finally, ask yourself if you spent the intended amount of time on each task, if you got distracted and why?
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

Practical Strategies for Workplace Wellness

Welcome to another exciting episode of Andrew's podcast, '50 Ways to Succeed at Work.' Today's episode, part 12 in Series 3, delves into one of the most challenging aspects of the workplace environment - dealing with toxic colleagues. The episode aims to help listeners manage challenging coworkers and transform their work atmosphere into a more positive and productive one.Andrew shares three real-life tales of dealing with toxic colleagues in various work environments. He provides practical step-by-step advice on tackling workplace toxicity effectively, focusing on elements like setting boundaries, documenting incidents, avoiding escalation, seeking support, and involving HR or management when necessary. In each toxic tale, simple yet effective actions resulted in a significant shift in team dynamics and overall workplace wellness.Andrew also emphasizes the power of empathy, active listening, building allies, and setting clear personal boundaries as strategies to mitigate the destructive impact of toxic coworkers. In this episode, you'll gain valuable insights to improve your working conditions, enhance team collaboration, and foster open dialogue while ensuring toxic behavior doesn't diminish your work happiness.Remember, you can catch other episodes of '50 Ways to Succeed at Work' on the official site. Don't forget to check out Andrew's book 'Happiness at Work,' which teems with engaging stories and insightful advice on tackling workplace issues effectively.Join Andrew again next week for more actionable tips to thrive in your professional life. Here's to improving your work happiness. Until next time!

50 Ways to Succeed at Work - Series 3 with Andrew

Welcome to the recap of the recent episode from the Series 3 of Andrew's weekly podcast, 50 Ways to Succeed at Work. v. And guess what? These motivational nuggets are also encapsulated in Andrew's book 'Happiness at Work', which is available now on Amazon and the book's official website, 'My Happiness at Work'.
This specific episode in Series 3 is designed to educate and empower you on various ways to achieve success at work. As Andrew always affirms, navigating through the problems at work can seem a bit overwhelming, but with the right advice and knowledge, it can be surprisingly manageable.
Want more resources? Feel free to explore the previous podcasts at '50ways.site' where you can delve into nearly 100 more topics that align with your individual interests. And if you ever have any burning questions, Andrew welcomes you to get in touch through the website.
Also, take a moment to check out Andrew's book, 'Happiness at Work'. It's an enlightening read crammed with captivating stories, motivating advice, and practical solutions for dealing with issues that occur frequently in our work life. This empowering guide is available on Amazon and on the book's official website, 'myhappinessatwork.com'. Prefer absorbing knowledge audibly? There's an audio version too!
Keep tuning in every week for more enlightening episodes in Series 3. Until next time!

E33/S2 TACKLE TRIVIA - Just because you’re smart, you can’t avoid the trivial

In this podcast, Andrew discusses the importance of tackling trivial tasks at work.
The story follows Edd, who is frustrated when his college education is not being used, and he is given trivial work to do. However, Edd learns that even small, seemingly unimportant tasks can be valuable and help develop skills such as attention to detail. 
Trivial work may be unavoidable, but it can provide an opportunity to shine, as Edd discovered.  The episode also answers three frequently asked questions about dealing with trivial work, including how to ask for help, how to make the work less tedious, and whether to stay in a job that mainly involves trivial tasks.Andrew suggests that accepting trivial work is essential because many mundane but critical tasks are necessary for individuals and organisations. 
Rather than trying to avoid or make these tasks less tedious, try to improve at doing them to build a reputation for out-of-the-box thinking and persistence.It is important to remember that even small tasks can be valuable and that avoiding trivial work may lead to being labelled as unwilling to do tedious work.
If you face a lengthy, trivial task, consider sharing the workload with others. Options include hiring part-timers, temporarily borrowing colleagues from other departments, or suggesting automation. 
When it comes to making boring tasks less tedious, try pairing them with another activity that demands more attention, Such as listening to music while working out can be helpful. 
Finally, Andrew suggests that people should be aware of the value of trivial work in developing attention to detail. It may be simple and easy to tackle, but it requires a high level of detail orientation. 
You can learn to be more detail-orientated yet still hold the bigger picture. 
Finally, Andrew argues that while trivial work may be frustrating, it can provide opportunities for you to grow and develop skills.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E32/S2 TIME TRAVELLER - Avoid lateness or early leaving; it breeds resentment

Andrew talks about the issue of lateness at work, highlighting its negative impact on career prospects and the resentment it can breed among colleagues.He says if you are running late, to let colleagues know immediately.  Apologise, tell the truth, offer solutions, and thank their boss for understanding.
To avoid lateness, Andrew recommends adopting a better approach to time management, writing down a list of those affected by your lateness and how, and adopting new strategies to counter the lateness tendency. Andrew suggests laying out clothes and shoes ready for the next day before bed and seeking help from a partner or a friend who can prompt you to leave for work on time.Andrew stresses that lateness is a form of abuse that can harm how others regard you and hurt your career prospects. It is disrespectful and tells others your time is more valuable than theirs. Arriving too early every day can also create a sense of resentment among colleagues.In conclusion, Andrew urges people to recognise the importance of arriving on time and impacting their career prospects, colleagues, and overall work environment. Being on time shows respect builds trust, and enhances productivity.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E20/S2 CLUTTER KILLER - Make sure your mess and disorder don’t do you down

Clutter is a common problem for many people, but as Andrew explains, it is not always bad. Some of history's most brilliant minds, such as Francis Bacon, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, have thrived in disorder. However, clutter can also adversely affect mental health and productivity, especially in the workplace. To address this, it's essential to understand why we keep clutter and how to declutter effectively.
According to studies, clutter can significantly affect our cognition, thinking, emotions, behaviour, decision-making, and relationships. People tend to keep clutter for various reasons, such as feeling overwhelmed or keeping things as reminders. However, clutter can harm our chances of success at work and reduce overall life satisfaction, especially among older adults. To tackle clutter, it's essential to create a simple plan and avoid leaving it all to chance.
One helpful framework for decluttering is Time, Reduce, Organize, and Maintain.First, break your total time into manageable blocks and dedicate a specific time each day to decluttering. Take it slowly and set a goal for each session. Next, reduce your material by making three piles of things: keep, reconsider, and chuck. Be honest with yourself and ask if you genuinely need the things you're keeping. Finally, Andrew says to organise what you've kept and maintain it regularly. Finding a system that works for you and avoids clutter in the future is essential.
In summary, he reminds you that clutter is not always bad but can adversely affect mental health and productivity. Understanding why we keep clutter and how to declutter effectively can create a more organised and fulfilling life. Using the Time, Reduce, Organize, and Maintain framework can help you to create a simple plan for decluttering and avoiding the harmful effects of clutter in the workplace and at home.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E30/S2 CULTURE CREATURE - Supporting the culture makes you stand out

In this episode, Andrew discusses the importance of culture in the workplace and how employees can incorporate values into their approach. Kellogg's is an example of a company that relies on six core values to drive its culture, including integrity, accountability, passion, humility, simplicity, and results. The company aligns everyone around its vision by reinforcing behaviours and success through a global recognition platform. As an individual employee, understanding the organisation's core values and practising them can increase your chances of success at work.
To understand the culture at your workplace, you can ask questions such as "What are our strengths and weaknesses?", "How do we prioritise things around here?" and "What is our duty towards our customers or clients?" You can take pride in your organisation through giving back to the community, optimism, quality products and services, decision-making authority, employee development, cost control, and a sense of accomplishment, benefits, and transparency. An organisation's response to failure can reveal much about its culture. A culture intolerant of failure and managing through fear will not encourage risk-taking, A better response to failure is to use it as a learning experience. When an organisation promotes a culture that embraces risk-taking and uses failures to improve, employees can take risks and learn from their failures 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E29/S2 SHARER - Why sharing information pays more than hoarding it

Andrew shares insights about the importance of sharing information in the workplace. In a story of two teams working for the same company, Andrew explains how hoarding information negatively impacted their performance. A new manager commissions research and presents data to both teams. He introduces a solution to the inter-team rivalry problem, which involves regular rotation of team members. As a result, both teams start to work together and share knowledge, leading to exceeding their sales quota.
Andrew answers some of the most common questions about sharing information in the workplace. Before sharing information, he suggests asking, "Is this helpful and motivating for the team? Also, "Do we have the authority to share it, and could doing so potentially breach any regulations?" Andrew explains the benefits of sharing knowledge in the workplace, such as encouraging fresh thinking, creating a learning culture, and providing a better customer experience.Andrew acknowledges the risk of losing one's job or career prospects from irresponsible information sharing. He recommends checking the organisation's information-sharing expectations to protect its reputation. However, responsible sharing has personal benefits such as gaining respect from colleagues, becoming more visible, and supporting better decision-making. Andrew encourages rejecting the approach of "my knowledge is power, and so I must hold on to it" and instead encourages being generous with information.
Andrew emphasizes that sharing knowledge is power, and work is all about collaboration. Regular rotation of team members and information sharing helps retain collective knowledge and improve performance. Responsible sharing of information has personal benefits and supports better decision-making.
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book